New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-04
MAYOR HEWJTT,S MESSAGE

Plain hard sense is The wing grace in Mayor
Hrwitt's short message to the Board of Alder
men. 1t is certainly true that the city needs
better pavemen's and cleaner streets and that
the latter cannot be had without the former.
But it will be difficult tn keep the streets in
proper condition while corporations are per-
mitted to tear mp the pavements at their
pleasure to replace them ut their leisure, and
to do their work in 81 s,venly IN amer as to
leave their destructive course marked by ruts
and gulies and deeply sunken spaces of fantas-
tic shapes. AS the Mayor says. more breathing
spaces are needed in the densely populated
parts of the city sidewalk Instructions should
be cleared away; oil the settled districts
should be thoroughly lighted; the docks and
the means of transportation demand thorough
attention; and the city has undoubtedly
reached o point in It's develO pm,nt which
makes large an genera Is trenthelt desirable.
1t is not likely, however. tn the Board OF
Aldermen will lend much assistance OF value
in securing that "lnrge and generous treat
ment." New-York Aldermen are rarely in
spired with sentiments OF that sort.
But all the suggestions touched upOn above
are practical. an with hearty cooperation be-
tween the new Mayor and the various nunic. pal
departments, life in this city may be made much
more omfortahle to some hundreds of thou san DIS
of it, people. A reasonable amount of money
judicously expended VIII secure better pave
ments IN many streets and lessen the lab0rs of
the Street Cleaning Department. All that is
required to obtain uuObsTucted Al lewalks is n
dilisent employ ment of the power, granted by
existing laws. The use of electric llgnts can. be-
extended easily, though the expense is now tx
cessive and competition should be stimulated
in order to reduce the cost of the public lamps.
An intcllige and honest DOCK Department
can give more space TO commerce., while pro-
tecting both public and private rights. Under
an economical. efficient city government, plans
for underground, surface and ele waited traus-
portal ion, which will AXE every part of the
city quickly accessible without overcrowding,
confusion or discomfort, will be encouraged.
No doubt Mayor Hewitt will find himself able
to do great deal 10 the direction of public i'm
pIovements by his suggestions and his power
full influence. A. to the ability of the city gov
ernpent to purify the tenement houses there
may be some doubt. Mr. Hewitt speaks of such
sanitary regulations 4" as will give us purer air
and water" Pure air, il is true, is almost IN
known IN SOME Of the popuous tenement
houses, but the water il pure enough, though
the supply is scanty. If the Croton can be sup
piled in sufficient volume there will be no COM
plant concerning it's qualify.
The conspicuous merits OF the new Mayors
message are it's cearness cOnciseness and bust
ness-lke tone. Too many chief executives of
Cities States ind Nations in lulge in loose.
long winded harangrles. Mr.. Hewitt has pot
thought it necessary to give his opinions on
landscape gardening OF the AndOver contro-
versy. His self-restraint is cOnmendable and
worthy OF imitation.